NATIONAL DEFENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13921, 26 March 1909, Page 4

NATIONAL DEFENCE.

i INVERCARGILL, March 25. At a special meeting of the Southland Branch of the Navy League, to consider the Jjattleship offer, the following resolution unanimously passed: '-'That the executive of £he Southland Branch of the Nary League congratulate tho Premier on the offer made to the Imperial Government on behalf of the Dominion, which gives practical recognition of the obligations of the British colonies to give adequate support to the Navy." Mr ;Leyland, member of the Timber Commission and president of Auckland Defence League, stated that he was thoroughly in agreement with the Prei inier's proposal, and considered the Government had done the right thing in the right way and at* the right time, and if they erred at all. they erred on ihe right side. On the question of inatioarfal defence, M> Leyland said the ivolunteer force is inadequate, the ammunttSon. insufficient, the guns obsolete, iind, generally ,vfchat the volunteer feystenT'as an army defence force is almost' . farcial. What the Defence League proposed was that every man m the Dominion should ..have military training .until the.~age. otf^-^kj &b.en in cases of emergency, our young men would be diamonds in the rough, and could be easily and quickly formed into an adequate and sound defence force, that would be able to prevent a raiding party from obtaining a footing in the country. The League totally opposed conscription, but^contended that military training should be given.